Steering mechanism for bicycles



(No Model.)

D. H. MGPHERSON. STBBRING'MEGHANISM FDR BIGYCLES.

No. 475,142. Patented May 17, 1892.

ma noms nuns cu., mmmymo., msmunvon, n. a

UNrrnD STATES.

DONALD H. MCPI-IERSON,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF LE ROY, NEW YORK.

STEERING MECHANISM vFOR BICYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 475,142, dated May 17;, 1892.. Application led November 14, 1891. Serial No. 411,897. (No model.) Y

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, DONALD H. McPHnRsoN,

Roy, in the county of Genesee and State of New i' York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steering Mechanism for Bicycles and other Vehicles; and I do hereby 'declare the following; to be a full, clear, and eX- act description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in steering mechanism for bicycles and other vehicles; and the object is to normally hold the handle-bar of the machine in a steady and rigid position, so that it will be unaffected by jars of the wheel when running over stones and like obstructions and at the same time enable the handle-bar to be readily operated to guide the wheel.

In bicycles and similar vehicles adapted to be steered by hand the jar and jolt occasioned by the wheels passing over stones, ruts, &c., become wearisome and injurious to the arms and hands of the rider, who is compelled to keep his hands on the handle-bar. Numerous devices have been devised to obviatc these objections, some of which consist of springs forming a part of the steering-fork or provided on the front wheel to decrease the sudden movement ofY the wheel. Such construction tends to lessen the stability and strength of the wheel. I overcome these obj ections andprovidemechanism which relieves the rider of the jarring movements of the handle-bar and at the same time secure complete control of the steering of the Wheel.

With these ends in viewI provide a standard on the front wheel of the vehicle, which passes upward loosely through the head and a portion of the handle. The handle is substantially L-shaped in construction and is loosely secured on the standard at or about its angle. The projecting end of this handle is provided with a rack on its lower face, and a bevel-pinion carried by a short shaft meshes with said rack. On the rear end of the shaft is a worm which meshes with a worm-gear rigid on the standardVand as the handle is operated the standard and wheel will be turned by the intermediate devices.

I will now proceed to a detailed description of myinvention inconnection with theA accompanying drawings, and to illustrate the invention to good advantage I have shown theimpro'vements applied to a Safety bicycle.

Figure I is a side view, partly in section, of my improved steering mechanism. Fig. 1I is a sectional view on the line fr looking upward. Fig. III is a detail view of the wormgear. Y

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of lreference denote corresponding parts in all the' figures, A designates the standard of the bicycle, which extends upward through the head ct, that is rigid with the frame, as in bicycles of ordinary construction.

Loosely tted on the standardabove the head a is a sleeve B, on which the handle C is secured. This handle consists of an upright shank c and the horizontal extension c', and

the handle is secured on the sleeve at or about -rack-bar D. This shaft E is supported and held in position by a bracket orV plate e, secured on the head dor integral therewith, and on thel rear end of said shaft is a worm F which meshes with a toothed or worm gear f, fitted rigidly on the standard A between the head a and the sleeve B;

The operation of the steering mechanism is very simple and may be readily understood from the foregoing description. By this arrangement the wheel may be made to turn in unison with the movement of the handle, or it may be made to turn more or less than the Vhandle by substituting a larger or smaller pinion d, which would increase or diminish the speed of the worm, thereby turning the Wheel proportionately. 'lhis mechanism also loo v may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, and I thereforereserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope ot' my lnvention.

It is obvious that the toothed or worin gear f can be rigidly secured on the standard A by A a key g or equivalent device, and the sleeve B may also be secured to the standard by an adjusting-screw G. In this constructionl the standard and wheel will beturned and guided directly by the handle, as in the ordinary bicycle. l

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The herein-described steering mechanism for vehicles, consisting of the standard,

Vthe handle having the horizontal' extension on itslower end, which is-pivotally secured on the standard, the rack-bar, the worm-gear on the standard, and devices intermediate of the rack-bar and gear to operate the latter, substantially as described.

2. The herein-describedv steering mechanf ism for vehicles, consisting of they standard, the angular handle loosely secured thereon l and carrying a rack-bar, the Worm-gear on said standard,and thehorizontalshatt having l a pinion on. one end to engage with said rackbar and a Worm on the other end to mesh with the. Worm-gear, substantially as described.

3. In steering mechanism for vehicles, the

combination of a standard, the head a, the

' worm-gear rigidly secured thereon, the sleeve loose on said standard above the gear, the angular handle rigid on said sleeve and having a rack-bar on its horizontal portion, a bracket secured on the head, and a horizontal shaft on said bracket and provided with a bevel-pinion which meshes with the rack-bar and with a worm on the other endto engage scribed..

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DONALD H. MCPHERSON. XVitnesses:

C. L. CARLTON, F. A. MoPHERsoN.

with the Worm-gear, substantially as described. 

